The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has condemned some private scholar transport operators for continuing to violate road and traffic laws.
Image: GCIS
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has lashed out at private scholar transport operators, accusing many of displaying an “unrepenting” and “intransigent attitude” towards passenger safety regulations despite heightened enforcement and recent fatal crashes.
In a media statement issued on Monday, the RTMC said a high number of private scholar transport operators, commonly known as “Abomalume”, “continue to exhibit an intransigent attitude and unwillingness to comply with passenger regulation despite high-profile fatal crashes and intensified law enforcement.”
The statement follows coordinated law enforcement operations conducted across all provinces last week.
According to the RTMC, 5,386 scholar transport vehicles were stopped and checked during the operations. Of these, 1,028 vehicles were found violating traffic laws.
“Most of these vehicles (589) were privately owned while 146 were contracted by parents, 95 were contracted by the Department of Transport, and 11 were contracted by the Department of Basic Education, while seven (7) were school-owned,” the corporation said.
The RTMC said many of the vehicles were operating without the necessary public scholar transport permits. In other instances, drivers “did not possess, or failed to produce driving licences and professional driving permits.”
Authorities also uncovered numerous mechanical defects. The vehicles were found to have “many defects relating to, among others, tyres, brakes, and rear stop lamps.”
As a result of the enforcement blitz, 500 traffic fines were issued, 219 vehicles were impounded, and two were discontinued.
The RTMC further revealed that most transgressors were between the ages of 18 and 35 years, followed by those aged between 35 and 45 years.
Meanwhile, 418 other motorists were arrested for drunken driving during the same week. The highest number of drunken driving arrests was recorded in the Eastern Cape, while Mpumalanga impounded and discontinued the highest number of vehicles.
The RTMC warned that enforcement operations will continue as authorities move to clamp down on non-compliant scholar transport operators and improve road safety for learners across the country.
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